We take a look at two incredible pieces of ancient art which reveal how gods and goddesses were depicted in Roman and Greek culture.

Part of the auction is this white marble statue from 1st century A.D. The Roman piece depicts a young naked man, standing supported by his right leg. The chlamys thrown over his left shoulder suggests that this work could be a depiction of the Roman gods Hermes or Apollo.

White marble statue from 1st century A.D.HVMC

This soft and youthful form dates back to sculpts created in 5th century B.C. Around the world, portrayals of both Hermes and Apollo provide us with an insight into how these deities were depicted. For example, in the British Museum's collection is The Farnese Hermes, a marble statue which also wears a chlamys, as well as winged sandals which denote that the piece is of Hermes. The statue is a Roman copy of a famous type created in the school of the Greek sculptor Praxiteles in the fourth century BC.

White marble statue from 1st century A.D.HVMC

White marble statue from 1st century A.D.HVMC

Also in Britain, in the collection at Kew Gardens, is a statue of Hermes, Roman, 1st century AD copy of a Greek original from 330-300 BC. In New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art is a statue of Hermes from 1st or 2nd century A.D. Rome. The piece is after a Classical Greek original adapted from work of the late 5th or early 4th century B.C.

The Met Museum's collection includes a representation of Apollo, in the form of a copy of a Greek bronze of the mid-4th century B.C. often attributed to Praxiteles. The Mid-Imperial, Hadrianic or Antonine piece is dated A.D. 130-161.

In 2015, at Christie's, New York, a Roman marble head of Apollo, circa 1st century B.C.- 1st century A.D. sold for $341 000 against a pre-sale estimate of $300 000-400 000.

The work up for sale at HVMC was featured in an auction at Tajan in 2002.

Marble with orange patina head of a goddess, dated 4th or 3rd century B.C.HVMC

This marble with orange patina piece is dated 4th or 3rd century B.C. The piece is from the Hellenistic art period. This work which represents a goddess, bears resemblance to a piece also in the Met Museum's collection there is also a head of a goddess from the Hellenistic period, late 4th or 3rd century B.C., which could be a depiction of the goddess Demeter.

Marble with orange patina head of a goddess, dated 4th or 3rd century B.C.HVMC

Marble with orange patina head of a goddess, dated 4th or 3rd century B.C.HVMC

In June 2013, at Christie's, New York, a marble head of a goddess from the Hellenistic period which most likely represents Demeter, realized $147 750.

Both pieces featured will be part of HMVC's Archeology auction on December 13, 2017. Check out more here.